Off to Shanxi - The Pang Family Cleared
With things turning out like this, we were heading to Shanxi. The Pang family had no connection whatsoever to the quicklime. It was a place called the Eunchun Merchant Group that had been smuggling it to Goryeo.
The official reason for this seizure and search was to uncover the improper collusion between the Pang family and the Eunchun Merchant Group. The Pang family was set to donate their ill-gotten gains to the government. I sent a concise letter to the Left Censor-in-chief with just the key points and explained the situation to the Habuk Regional Commander as well.
"What pathetic fools."
The Regional Commander, having heard the full story of the quicklime incident, frowned and let out a heavy sigh.
"To conduct it so sloppily that even civilians tipped us off."
What the Regional Commander felt wasn't so much outrage at "How dare they smuggle quicklime?" but rather fury at "How utterly incompetent do you have to be for civilians to report you?"
For now, since the murim force of the Pang family truly hadn't gotten involved with the quicklime, we'd averted the worst-case scenario. This was just a case of a greedy merchant group messing with a government monopoly item—not some armed civilian faction harboring rebellious intent.
Still, Goryeo's quicklime smuggling—which the government had been quietly sweeping under the rug—had nearly been exposed to the entire world because of one merchant group. They hadn't kept security tight despite handling quicklime, letting rumors spread that the murim sects they contracted with possessed it.
Of course, murim sects getting framed isn't a new thing. But when the frame-up involves quicklime—and even ties to Goryeo—that changes everything.
"I'll pass the word to the Prefectural Governor and the Inspector. The Eunchun Merchant Group and their associates won't escape severe punishment, so all under heaven will know the sternness of Great Song's laws."
Unlike the Pang family, who could get off with just a donation, the Eunchun group wouldn't go down easy. They were traitors who'd nearly tarnished the government's prestige and soured relations between Song and Goryeo. We'd pile on every charge imaginable and strip them bare.
'Why'd they have to get caught?'
I nearly let out a chuckle at the thought. A group bold enough to contract with the Pang family for smuggling to a foreign nation couldn't be some small-time outfit. In Habuk, they ranked high; even across the Central Plains, they were a heavyweight.
Yet such a major player was about to crash and burn over one slip-up. With the government's eyes now on them, even past "look-the-other-way" issues would face strict legal scrutiny, and everything straddling the line between illegal and shady would be reclassified as outright crimes.
But the Eunchun group should consider that mercy. Officially, the quicklime smuggling never happened, so at least they'd dodge that charge. Getting caught fiddling with a banned government item? They'd have no grounds to complain even if sentenced to death.
Instead, they'd be bled dry of wealth to the point where dying might seem preferable—but they'd have to endure it. You can't buy your life back with money, after all.
"Left Vice Censor-in-chief."
"Yes, sir? Speak, my lord."
"It's embarrassing to ask this of the Left Vice Censor-in-chief, who stepped in to do what we should have... but I can't think of anyone more suitable, so I must request it."
I flinched at the Regional Commander's ominous opener. This felt off. Why was he laying on the guilt with words like "embarrassing" and "most suitable" to make refusal hard?
"Didn't you say Hang-san-pa provided the tip about the quicklime?"
"Yes, that's right."
"...Please ask them to thoroughly control everyone who gave them that information."
"Of course. No need to worry."
It was less than I'd feared, so the tension eased. From the government's perspective, they had to care about the source of the intel. Even if we treated this as a non-event, if those in the know started blabbing everywhere, it would eventually leak.
Fortunately, Hang-san-pa wasn't the loose-lipped type, so rumors wouldn't escape from there. But they must have gotten the info from someone, and we'd only relax once that chain was secured.
"Thank you for agreeing so readily. Lately, things have been tense between the government and Hang-san-pa, so it was awkward for us to approach them directly."
"Hang-san-pa? With the government?"
That was unexpected. The government and Hang-san-pa were mutually friendly and cooperative. They might not know each other's latest news due to rarely crossing paths, but open conflict? Not once since Great Song's founding.
"What happened?"
"Well..."
The Regional Commander rubbed his chin awkwardly and dropped another surprise.
"Hang-san-pa demanded we cut off reconstruction funds for Mount Hang or allow them to relocate to another mountain. We drew a firm line, citing the founding ancestor's edict on rebuilding Mount Hang—we absolutely can't. Things have been awkward since."
A power play between those trying to slip money under the table and those refusing it. I could only nod dumbly at the unforeseen situation.
After the Pang family seizure, Habuk's murim forces had tucked tail and behaved. Surrounding one estate with thousands of troops and tearing it apart for three days? Only a fool would stir after hearing that.
Indeed, to control murim, you start by smashing the ringleaders. Plus, with Langya—clearly government-backed—now moving, the sects would be racking their brains, gauging the winds of change.
They'd soon split into government collaborators and strict neutrals. Open rebels? None. Defy the state, and it's sect annihilation.
"Last time, I couldn't even host you properly before sending you off, so it weighed on me. Thank you for returning."
In that game of chicken, Jo Wi-cheo and I revisited Hang-san-pa. We'd planted informants in Habuk's murim, crushed the arrogant Pang family, and made the others wary. Habuk business was done; now just fulfill the Regional Commander's request.
"No need for thanks. If anything, I owe the sect leader a great debt."
I bowed deeply in formal salute, and the sect leader smiled faintly, offering a teacup.
"Seems you've wrapped up your business safely."
"Yes, fortunately."
It truly was. Otherwise, we'd have wiped the Pang family off the map or been at Goryeo's throat.
"And regarding that, I have a favor to ask..."
"No one will speak of this before the government does."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
I subtly lifted a corner of my mouth at the sect leader preempting my request. A man who'd weathered all storms—sharp instincts.
"As a token of gratitude for aiding the realm's peace, we've prepared a modest gesture—"
"No need. We've already received more favor from the state than we deserve. How could I accept payment for what duty demands?"
He cut me off before I could even pull out the silver pouch. His expression was so resolute I couldn't press further. This is the face of someone battle-hardened by decades of attempted bribes.
"...Just as the people must devote themselves to the realm's peace, so too does the state have a duty to repay that devotion. If that natural order fails, who would strive for the realm? Please, sect leader, accept without refusal."
Still, I couldn't pocket what the Regional Commander insisted I deliver. This silver even included last month's reconstruction funds Hang-san-pa was owed. Call it "compensation," but it was rightfully theirs.
"A child's care for its parent is heaven's natural order, not done for reward."
Yet the sect leader shook his head, face stern and grave.
"Isn't a parent's love for its child equally natural?"
"For a child to live carefree is reward enough."
Every point I made got shot down, so I quietly shut my mouth. I could feel it—keep talking, and I'd get verbally dismantled.
'Arguing with a Daoist master...'
Doomed from the start. Unlike me, who entered bureaucracy thanks to Grandfather's backing, this sect leader was a true-blue Daoist sect product—a philosopher nurtured in the way. His knowledge and quotable passages crushed mine.
What now? Sneak out and leave it by the door before descending? Nah, he'd probably chase me down with it.
"Sect leader. May I enter for a moment?"
"Elder Jeong?"
As I rolled my eyes in dilemma, an unfamiliar voice came from beyond the door.
"I'm fine. It might be urgent, so invite him in."
Sudden third-party intrusion, but I stayed calm and deferred to the sect leader. I was okay; let them enter. As I said, if an elder sought the leader with a guest present, it could be pressing. Or at least buy time to plot ditching the money.
—Or so I thought.
"His Majesty has permitted Hang-san-pa's relocation."
Until Elder Jeong burst in, face flushed with excitement.
"Relocation...?"
"Yes. 'The Mount Hang we love exists not in matter, but in the heart. No need to cling to the ashes of the old one.' Beautiful words from on high."
"But... Mount Hang's reconstruction is the founding ancestor's edict. How could..."
I voiced the stunned sect leader's confusion. Mount Hang's rebuild was the founder's national policy—no emperor could defy it. That's why the government persisted with bribes despite resistance.
"He decrees Mount Hyunak in Shanxi as the new Mount Hang, to be called North Peak."
'Ah.'
The emperor had neatly resolved it. Mount Hang was rebuilt, just relocated. Still Mount Hang, technically.
...
"Sect leader."
"...Y-yes? Speak."
"Use this for relocation funds."
To the still-dazed sect leader, I smoothly executed the bribe. This time, he didn't refuse.